Gumbel told viewers that he kept his surgery private, and that part of his lung was removed in the surgery. He and his doctor hope that his treatment is completed.

"We had told a few people, we told my family, obviously," Gumbel said. "I even kept it from my staff at 'Real Sports.' So I'm okay for the time being."

Gumbel said that he is seeing his surgeon next week.

"I'm hoping they greenlight me to play golf again," he said.

Gumbel is the host of HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel." He spent 15 years as co-host of NBC's "Today" show.

Gumbel has been known to smoke cigars, CNN notes. According to a Cigar Aficionado article, CNN/US President Jon Klein gave Gumbel a humidor when both were at CBS in the 1990s to celebrate the launch of Gumbel's show, "Public Eye."